Lisa Sokolov, A Quiet Thing (Laughing Horse Records)Grade: B+
Jazz vocalists have never really been my cup of tea. I love the joy and range of Ella Fitzgerald, the pathos and blues of Billie Holiday, and the rich timbre of Joe Williams' voice. However, for my tastes, I find most jazz vocalists are either unoriginal or guiltay of oversinging. However, that being said, Lisa Sokolov is a vocalist I really dig. Her singing may not appeal to everyone, but you can't accuse her of being unoriginal.
A Quiet Thing is Sokolov's newest release and highlights her extraordinary vocal skills. When singing standards she presents the listener with something that has never been heard before. Her aim is to strip these well-known gems down to their vital essence. Often, as on Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life", she mines gold, revitalizing a song that in lesser hands would have been a luke warm rehashing of a brilliant song. At other times she misses the mark - "Ol' Man River" her vocals are at odds with the lyric, as if she were swimming against the current. The inexorable flow of the river to the see is not captured here.
The real gems on A Quiet Thing are Sokolov's compositions. Here we really get the sense of Sokolov's roots in the blues, a tangible feel for cool moist earth and the mist settling on our skin. The quirky rhythms of "Succatash" are balanced by the raw power of Sokolov's voice. At times, I hear as much Janis Joplin influence as much as any jazz chanteuse. On "She Is Standing", Sokolov is more contemplative, blending her vocals seamlessly with the accompaniment.
A Quiet Thing is a very good album that will not disappoint her current fans, and may find her some new ones as well. The programming of the songs is well-thought out, mixing the standards and originals. If you are looking for a jazz vocalist willing to put her art on the line, then look no further than A Quiet Thing.
Recommended songs: "Succatsah", "Lush Life", "She Is Standing", "A Quiet Thing"
More Information:
